Post your rankings for the D&D 3.5 classes here. These rankings should be based on how powerful you think each class is relative to each other, and relative to the monsters and NPCs you might fight in your campaigns. DO NOT post your list based upon which classes you like to play the most, or which ones you think are the "most cool." Simply list the classes based upon raw power.
Here is my list:
1. Wizard - was #1 in 1st edition D&D, was #1 in 2nd edition D&D, was #1 in Third Edition D&D, and is still #1 in D&D 3.5
2. Cleric - they have some amazing spells on their spell lists. Anyone read Holy Word yet in D&D 3.5? Thats just a sample of their wonderful spells. D8 hit points, ability to cast spells in heavy armor, ability to turn undead. Clerics rock in D&D 3.5.
3. Sorcerer - the inability to use quickened spells effectively keeps
them out of the top 2.
4. Fighter - all those feats! If you own all of the splat books, and Forgotten Realms books, you can take some serious feats, and do some serious damage with a fighter.
5. Ranger - In 1st edition D&D, rangers were one of the best classes in the game. In 2nd edition, rangers stunk up the joint. In 3rd edition D&D rangers still stunk up the joint. Now in D&D 3.5, rangers kick butt again. Giving rangers evasion, and three bonus feats for dual-wielding makes them a wonderful class. Their spell list improved dramatically too. Cat's Grace, Bear's Endurance, Owl's Wisdom. Hello??? This is good stuff people.
6. Barbarians - D12 hit dice, Uncanny dodge, rage, and better damage reduction really makes a barbarian shine.
7. Paladins - they get to smite more often in D&D 3.5. I havent found any significant nerfs to them yet. They are still a good class, especially if you have a high charisma. Getting that charisma ability modifier to saving throws is invaluable!
8. Monks - monks still suffer from the same problem they had in 3rd edition...they cant hit anyone! They added amulet of mighty fists to the DMG, and that should help with their to hit rolls, but other melee classes will have weapons with the same modifiers at the same levels, so a monk will never catch up to the other melee classes when it comes to how often they hit.
9. Rogue - Rogues got nerfed a little in D&D 3.5, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. It takes a little longer to get some of their good abilities, but they still get them. In the gaming groups I have been a part of, the DMs like to use lots of undead, constructs, and elementals, so rogues dont get to use their sneak attack very often. If your DM uses lots of NPCs, then you might want to move rogue higher up your list.
10. Druids - IMO, the key to playing a druid in D&D 3.5 is to completely understand and manipulate the animal companion rules, and to use wildshape to your advantage. Unfortunately, I think both of these abilities stink, so unless you have a very open-minded DM, a druid is a lousy class. Their spell list is not as good as a cleric or wizard, their pets will never be quite powerful enough to make a big difference, and their wildshape ability has too many limitations.
11. Bard - bards blew chunks in 3rd edition D&D, and they still blow chunks in D&D 3.5. Bards really are more of a roleplaying class. They have a few decent defensive spells on their spell list, but power-wise, they are at the bottom of the list.
Remember, these are just my opinions. Proving or disproving any of the above statements can be difficult, yet rewarding. So...lets see your lists!
Here is my list:
1. Wizard - was #1 in 1st edition D&D, was #1 in 2nd edition D&D, was #1 in Third Edition D&D, and is still #1 in D&D 3.5
2. Cleric - they have some amazing spells on their spell lists. Anyone read Holy Word yet in D&D 3.5? Thats just a sample of their wonderful spells. D8 hit points, ability to cast spells in heavy armor, ability to turn undead. Clerics rock in D&D 3.5.
3. Sorcerer - the inability to use quickened spells effectively keeps
them out of the top 2.
4. Fighter - all those feats! If you own all of the splat books, and Forgotten Realms books, you can take some serious feats, and do some serious damage with a fighter.
5. Ranger - In 1st edition D&D, rangers were one of the best classes in the game. In 2nd edition, rangers stunk up the joint. In 3rd edition D&D rangers still stunk up the joint. Now in D&D 3.5, rangers kick butt again. Giving rangers evasion, and three bonus feats for dual-wielding makes them a wonderful class. Their spell list improved dramatically too. Cat's Grace, Bear's Endurance, Owl's Wisdom. Hello??? This is good stuff people.
6. Barbarians - D12 hit dice, Uncanny dodge, rage, and better damage reduction really makes a barbarian shine.
7. Paladins - they get to smite more often in D&D 3.5. I havent found any significant nerfs to them yet. They are still a good class, especially if you have a high charisma. Getting that charisma ability modifier to saving throws is invaluable!
8. Monks - monks still suffer from the same problem they had in 3rd edition...they cant hit anyone! They added amulet of mighty fists to the DMG, and that should help with their to hit rolls, but other melee classes will have weapons with the same modifiers at the same levels, so a monk will never catch up to the other melee classes when it comes to how often they hit.
9. Rogue - Rogues got nerfed a little in D&D 3.5, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. It takes a little longer to get some of their good abilities, but they still get them. In the gaming groups I have been a part of, the DMs like to use lots of undead, constructs, and elementals, so rogues dont get to use their sneak attack very often. If your DM uses lots of NPCs, then you might want to move rogue higher up your list.
10. Druids - IMO, the key to playing a druid in D&D 3.5 is to completely understand and manipulate the animal companion rules, and to use wildshape to your advantage. Unfortunately, I think both of these abilities stink, so unless you have a very open-minded DM, a druid is a lousy class. Their spell list is not as good as a cleric or wizard, their pets will never be quite powerful enough to make a big difference, and their wildshape ability has too many limitations.
11. Bard - bards blew chunks in 3rd edition D&D, and they still blow chunks in D&D 3.5. Bards really are more of a roleplaying class. They have a few decent defensive spells on their spell list, but power-wise, they are at the bottom of the list.
Remember, these are just my opinions. Proving or disproving any of the above statements can be difficult, yet rewarding. So...lets see your lists!
